By JENNIFER RAYMOND

jraymond@thewakullanews.net

County Administrator Ben Pingree was at the focal point of two different issues brought up Monday night at the county commission meeting.

Pingree has been taking several hits from citizens at recent commission meetings.

One of these issues involves the increase in the cost of county staff.

Resident Steve Fults brought up this issue at a recent meeting in a PowerPoint presentation. Another resident, Dana Peck, came to the meeting on Monday to speak on this issue.

Fults said the county saw an increase of more than $800,000 in the county’s personnel budget.

Peck wondered why the county personnel budget was increasing in a hiring freeze.

She said there needs to be an investigation into where the money is going.

“This is no time for Sunday morning politeness,” Peck said.

Chairman Howard Kessler asked Pingree for an explanation.

Pingree said this increase was due to the cost of living adjustments approved by the commission, not passing on the increase in health costs to employees and retirement increases.

Kessler asked for a written response to Fults’ presentation 10 days before the next commission meeting on July 19.

Pingree said he explained all this data in a memo sent to the commission some weeks ago. But he did agree to write a new memo.

The other issue involved a no-bid contract given to Inspired Technologies which provides the IT services to the county.

Fults said this was done three different times at the recommendation of Pingree and was approved each time by the county commission.

The last time in November 2009, the commission approved a two-year extension with the company.

The physical address of Inspired Technologies was 116 Strattonwood Place, Fults said.

In May, this property was listed for sale. It is now owned by Pingree, Fults said.

“I think there are some questions that need to be answered,” Fults said.

Kessler asked Pingree to comment on the situation.

Pingree said he and his wife bought the home from an individual, Craig Goodson.

Kessler said if someone is buying a home from a current vendor of the county, that should be disclosed.

“It’s obscene to me,” Pingree said of the situation.

Kessler said, “It concerns me.”